Secret Service protection for former Vice President Dick Cheney has been extended.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Protection for former Vice President Dick Cheney has been extended, Secret Service spokesman Ed Donovan confirmed to CNN Tuesday.

Donovan would not say for how long the extension will last. The extension, reportedly requested by Cheney, went through the standard process and was officially authorized by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano July 17, according to DHS spokeswoman Sara Kuban.

The extension was not based on a specific threat against the former vice president, CNN has also learned. Rather, officials believed the move was justified given the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, political debate about the Bush administration's strategies and Cheney's active public schedule, according to a government official with knowledge of the matter.

Ordinarily, former vice presidents only receive Secret Service protection for the first six months after leaving office. DHS told CNN this is the first time a former vice president's security detail has been extended beyond the standard duration.

–CNN's John King, Kevin Bohn, and Martina Stewart contributed to this report.

soundoff(172 Responses)

Cheney belongs in prison

This war criminal does not deserve any protection. He should be in a supermax prison cell 23 hours a day. I can't wait until dick cheney (no caps deserved) is in prison for the rest of his life. It won't be long now.

July 21, 2009 04:39 pm at 4:39 pm |

FEMALES FOR FEMALES

This is a dangerous man like Obama to America.

July 21, 2009 04:39 pm at 4:39 pm |

Flat-earther, Roswell, Georgia

Just give him the body armour and under protected vehicles he supplied to the soldiers.

July 21, 2009 04:40 pm at 4:40 pm |

Scottsdale Jack

Let's just put him in jail where he belongs, that will keep him safe.

July 21, 2009 04:40 pm at 4:40 pm |

Evette

I think that Dick has enough money to pay for protection for his entire family for the rest of this century....what a waste of your tax dollars

July 21, 2009 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |

DX in TX

No one cares enough about Cheney to harm him. He's doing more harm to himself than anyone could even think of.

By the way, who's paying for this extension...oh yeah, I am...dammit, Cheney has stuck it to me again!

July 21, 2009 04:41 pm at 4:41 pm |

Me in Big D

Poor ol Dutch! Give it a rest. The last place Cheney will end up is in prison so you'd better just give it a rest. Maybe get some education or something else to keep you occupied. Your blogs are pathetic and most of the time, racially biased.

July 21, 2009 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

Drooling Liberal

Dick Cheney is your overlord. He is smarter than you. Deal with it. I say free protection for the rest of his long, prosperous life.

July 21, 2009 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

tom

I guess popularity has it's price. Why should we pay for this? Wasn't he part of that gray area that lies between the Executive and Congressional parts of Government. Show me in the constitution where we have to protect this idiot. He's a member of the NRA.

July 21, 2009 04:43 pm at 4:43 pm |

cecilia

Let's just send him to Gitmo where he will be safe now that he is not ordering waterboarding – a stay in Gitmo should be a cake walk for him.

July 21, 2009 04:45 pm at 4:45 pm |

Marie

Where oh where is Cheney now that his secret has come out about his unauthorization of the CIA .I guess this comes under his reasoning for water boarding.For weeks almost every day he was in front a camera or on tv interveiws...now you don't hear a peep out of him.Well Cheney boy what 's done in the dark comes out in the light.Stay tuned folks there's more to come just wait and see.This man is the DEVIL itself

July 21, 2009 04:48 pm at 4:48 pm |

tom

Put him in an undisclosed location and leave him there

July 21, 2009 04:48 pm at 4:48 pm |

Carl from MI

Wow... enough people hate him and want to harm him because of his evil actions while being VP that he needs extended Secret Service... what a surprise!!

People like Cheney always get their comeuppance!!

July 21, 2009 04:49 pm at 4:49 pm |

Andy

Just like our soldiers should have lifelong heath care for serving, so should our POTUS AND VPOTUS. Thank you Mr. Cheney for all you did to keep us safe. We will all be in your debt forever whether it is admitted or not.

July 21, 2009 04:50 pm at 4:50 pm |

I'll make 'em famous

[..Ordinarily, former vice presidents only receive Secret Service protection for the first six months after leaving office..]

Ordinarily...right .. so it is true then ? OMG

July 21, 2009 04:50 pm at 4:50 pm |

Look at the big picture

@ Mississippi Mike July 21st, 2009 4:05 pm ET

"They should get lifetime protection, not phased out protection."

Just curious: Would you be saying the same thing if it was President Obama we were talking about? I'm guessing not . . . .

July 21, 2009 04:51 pm at 4:51 pm |

MikefromWV

Just to clarify the record, it was Cheney who requested the additional protection, not Obama. Obama approved it and forwarded the request to Homeland Security, who signed off on it. I just hope that any future requests for extensions will be denied in the interests of national security. His continued existence prolongs the hate-filled thoughts of terrorists all over the world.

July 21, 2009 04:51 pm at 4:51 pm |

Chris

"Probably needs it with so many lib crazies out there...."

– People on the left rarely, if ever, resort to violence to push their agenda. It's the crazies on the right that resort to violence, mainly due to their low intelligence.

July 21, 2009 04:52 pm at 4:52 pm |

Four and The Door

Dick Cheney in the Vice president's office was one of the fundamental reasons terrorists did not see a second successful attack in the US. Some liberals have an odd way of making themselves feel superior and righteous by second guessing his methods, but I am not alone in recognizing that this country owes him a great deal of gratitude.

July 21, 2009 04:53 pm at 4:53 pm |

Bob in Pa

Listen to all of you !

Fascist – Did you check the meaning of the word before you used it ?
illegal war – What war isn't ?.
Murderer and terrorist – I'll admit, he is good with a shotgun.
Darth Sideous – I think you are confusing him with Gorbachov.

July 21, 2009 04:53 pm at 4:53 pm |

RepubliKLANs Are Plain Stupid

miss. cheney scared of being alone....how does waterboarding sound? sounds like torture?!

July 21, 2009 04:53 pm at 4:53 pm |

Steph

wallyf,
See, the President will protect all Americans, even evil right wing monsters.

July 21, 2009 04:54 pm at 4:54 pm |

Dutch/Bad Newz, VA

Haliburton has a security firm. Let them flip the bill.

July 21, 2009 04:55 pm at 4:55 pm |

B

If he needs further protection, let him pay for it. Why should he stay on our dime? Hs shouldn't have been such a "Dick" Cheney while in office.